John Sawers, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), shares his insights on how security threats have evolved with the rise of digital technologies and social media. In this interview, he offers a compelling exploration of the shift from traditional methods to contemporary security challenges. Sawers examines how intelligence approaches have adapted to address new threats, including the influence of social media on democratic processes and the evolving global geopolitical landscape. The discussion provides An insightful analysis of the current dynamics in intelligence work and highlights the critical issues facing intelligence services in an increasingly interconnected and digital world.
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July 1, 2019Few weeks ago, I gained the chance of reading the UN Security Council resolution 2468 of 30 April on MINURSO , and was surprised by the frequently repeated expression of “Morocco, the Frente Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania”, instead of the previous “all parties and neighbours”. Besides, it was reported that the US representative twice referred to “Morocco, the Frente Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania” in his short remark in the Security Council meeting1. Shortly after that, I co ... -
June 21, 2019The New York Times reported this morning that after the shot down of an U.S. drone by Iranian forces, President Trump ordered military retaliation, but called it off in the early phase. Below is a facts' review through the international press perspectives. “You are pushing everyone towards a confrontation” Unusually, the satellite images were not presented to the media. Possibly, the photos were taken from a submarine, or there was fear that the enemy could figure out who and how ... -
June 14, 2019Enhancing the strategic thinking on issues related to stability and security at the African level requires challenging the predominant classical conception of security towards a more comprehensive, supportive and inclusive approach. While traditional strategies are often based on military responses and hard power, it is necessary to emphasize soft power in all its dimensions, placing the individual at the heart of all conflict prevention and management methods. Some authors argue f ... -
June 12, 2019The illusion ended in an agricultural hamlet, a forgotten place in Eastern Syria named Baghuz Al-Fawqan. A fantasy, the resurrection of Islamic greatness and rules of a caliphate, known thirteen hundred years ago, reduced to a junkyard, a sober, disturbing, memorial of betrayal and misapprehension. Publicly the self-appointed caliph of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al Baghadi, did not order his fighters to resist to the end, accept the fate of martyrs, promised to ascent to paradis ...
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May 29, 2019Helmut Sorge - Columnist, Policy Center for the New South www.policycenter.ma ... -
May 24, 2019On the eve of Britain’s exit from the European Union, the country is redefining its international approach. The United Kingdom has already taken action by becoming involved in new economic commitments, new trade agreements in Commonwealth countries but also from a diplomatic point of view in West Africa. While development aid remains a focal point of its intervention in Africa, it risks being undermined by the Brexit and its economic consequences. However, the United Kingdom is now ... -
May 23, 2019Un enlèvement au Bénin Le 1er de ce mois de mai, alors qu’éclatent au Bénin des violences au sujet des résultats des élections, deux touristes français sont enlevés au parc de Pendjari, au Nord-ouest du pays, à proximité des frontières avec le Burkina Faso. Trois jours, plus tard, les autorités béninoises confirment l’enlèvement et soulignent la découverte, dans le cadre de l’enquête, du corps d’un homme qui s’avérera, par la suite, être celui du guide béninois des touristes enlev ...
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May 16, 2019The author is an alumnus of the 2018 Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders program Last year Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took a big step toward stabilizing the Horn of Africa when he agreed to sign a long-disputed peace agreement with Eritrea - one that previous Ethiopian governments had refused to sign beca of the border demarcation within the agreement would seem to leave Ethiopia to blame for sparking the conflict in 1998 that eventually caused as many as a quarter of a mi ...
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May 9, 2019« Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong –un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea &will do nothing to interfere or end it .He also knows that I am with him &does not want to break his promise to me. A deal will happen. » (Donald Trump, twitter, 3.42 pm, may 4, 2019) The hat was black and already fashionable during murderous days of Adolf Hitler, Nazi-Germany’s dictator. The bizarre leader of North Korea had to ...
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May 3, 2019France appears to be relying on force to patch up problems in Africa, and particularly in Libya. None of this is compatible with President Macron’s lofty foreign policy declarations. French President Emmanuel Macron has classified colonisation as a crime against humanity. He is also keen to redefine the relationship with former French colonies. But in practice, there has never been a more ‘let’s go to war’ or ‘va t-en guerre’ attitude, in terms of its hopes for involvement in inter ...
